› added 5 years ago

520

TIL, the Black Death disproportionately killed frail people. Moreover, people who lived through it lived much longer than their ancestors (many reaching ages of 70-80), not because of good health but because of their hardiness to endure diseases. This hardiness was passed on to future generations.

Read more sc.edu

via reddit.com

6EVPJ TIL that there was a Great Molasses Flood that occurred on January 15, 1919 in Boston, Massachusetts. A large molasses storage tank burst open and a huge wave of molasses flooded the streets around 35 mph, killing 21 and injuring 150.
m1K9o TIL about Ernst Leitz II, the CEO of Leica that helped to smuggle Jews out of Germany by "assigning" them to overseas sales offices, even if they weren't actually company employees. They were then given a free camera, helped to find jobs, and were paid a stipend until they could find work.
rP0e TIL a NY woman was startled to hear a loud crash in her apartment kitchen followed by the sounds of someone breathing inside her wall. The man inside had climbed into an air vent before falling six stories and getting stuck. He said it was part of the initiation for being new to the building.
5YL1R TIL that Bruce Lee tried to create an American TV show in the 70’s but Warner Brothers stole the idea, created “Kung Fu” and cast David Carradine as the lead. 50 yrs later Bruce Lee’s daughter took her fathers idea and created “The Warrior” for Cinemax.
J1jZQ TIL: Vasily was a serial killer who would target clients looking to buy one of his horses. He would get them drunk with vodka and then kill them. His wife discovered his murders years after and reacted calmly and then began to aid him. He killed 33 customers before he was caught.